Hushed Willows A Silent Retreat

Kirain let out a weary chuckle. No, not running. Just… searching. For something, anything, really. Just not to be so alone anymore.

The last words slipped out like an afterthought, soft and fragile, her gaze drifting to the side, unfocused. Her mind wandered through recent memories, long days spent traveling unfamiliar lands, empty and silent, dotted with strangers she didn’t dare approach. When had she grown so hesitant?

She remembered a time when she greeted everyone with boundless warmth and exuberance. But now, paranoia clung to her like a shadow, whispering doubts in the quiet moments. Had isolation made her this way? Or had she simply pushed herself too far, burdened by her own intentions?

Yet, she couldn’t deny the warmth Wake’s unexpected company stirred in her chest. Companionship had always meant so much to her.

She sighed, shaking her head as if to clear the thought. Being a loner isn’t for me, she murmured to herself. It never was.